Little Feet, Little Shoes, Little Steps

Reece was bought his first pair of shoes.

And for some reason he really hates to wear them.  Every single time I wrestle his baby feet into them, he does look very precious and big boyish, but not a moment later, when I see him crawling across the floor he's down a shoe. He always manages to rip off just one and looks like some orphan child dragging his one shoe and one socked foot behind him. And he refuses to finger walk in them as well. So much for helping him learn to walk. :) But I know in time he'll get used to them and won't want to go anywhere without a pair of baby shoes on his teeny feet. (Or it may be another pair he learns to walk in, since it may take awhile for him to get used to the idea of having shoes on his tiny feet if he keeps up with ripping one off.)

But no matter, one day he'll love them. And for now, I'll just let him explore the world with one shoe on.

Almost just like Mommy's shoes. And before we
know it, he'll be running along beside me. :)

Our 2010 Christmas Card - You Better BELIEVE It

Here’s our 2010 Christmas card. The first holiday card with Reece’s beautiful face to grace its presence with. :)

I fell in love with this “Believe” card the first time I saw it. Because believing is really a big part of Christmas. Whether it’s believing in Santa and the North Pole, believing in the real reason for the season, or just plain old believing in Christmas magic and all the joys that come with it. And I really also just really love the word "believe". True story.

The picture for the card I finally decided on, was taken moments before Reece sat on Santa's lap, with the Christmas lights twinkling in the background and Reece looking absolutely precious. I was sure this card was going to set the bar for many years to come. I didn't think my card could be topped.

And I stayed happily impressed with how my card came out . . . until I had already sent many out and looked a bit more closely at the words I chose. I think I had a little too much love for the Wisemen this season, because upon inspection this is what the card said, “Wising you all the magic and joy of the season . . . “ Major misspelling and major whoops. And major embarrassment and WISHING I had looked a bit more closely. I should blame it on the eggnog or maybe the rushed making of the card late into the night. Or blame it on believing I don’t need to proofread.

But what’s done is done.  And our first Christmas card went out misspelling and all. I’ll just pretend the card was absolutely perfect, because me being a perfectionist (who would have thought due to my major mishap?) will dwell on it until I get the next years cards out.

But then again, Christmas isn’t all about being perfect. It’s about well, believing and enjoying the spirit of all things Christmas. And of course, a little Christmas magic. So I'll leave you with a few parting words: I wise you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. :)

The Spirit of Christmas Can Be Felt From Within . . .

 . . . And seen around your house in the form of decorations.

And I for one absolutely love decorating for Christmas. It's as if the magic of Christmas settles around your house once the stockings are hung, the tree gets decorated and everything else getting lovingly placed around your home. Because what is a house without "stockings hung by the chimney with care" or "the holly that will be on your own front door"? It's a house without decorations, a house without Christmas cheer, a house the Grinch and Scrooge would like. And that will never be our house.

This was the first Christmas spent in our new home, which meant I wanted to go Christmas decoration crazy and pull everything pretty off the shelves and run down the aisles screaming, "MINE MINE! That tree skirt is MINE!" I wanted to be the Crazy Christmas lady and have overflowing baskets and carts and bring all the Christmas goodies I fell in love with at every store home with me. But since I don't have an unlimited supply of money, and there was no Christmas miracle this year in the form of finding buried treasure or finding a tree that grew money, I couldn't be Crazy Christmas lady. But I could be her a little bit, just as a downgraded version.

Oh Christmas Tree!

This reindeer could pull the sleigh if he
wanted to. I just know it.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care . . .

This year I bought the pretty essentials, and for the next few years, little by little my Christmas decoration collection, as well as the Christmassy splendor of our house, will grow. But that also gives me something to look forward to. Each year I'll get to visit the stores with a fresh hope of finding the perfect front door wreath, or the perfect whatever to upgrade our Christmas mantel or whatever. Every year will be a little Christmas treasure hunt. And every year I'll be waiting anxiously for the calendar to change to December for the decorating to begin.

Pretty Tablescape. Finally used our wedding china!

My favorite Christmas decoration. :)

I know where Santa's sitting . . .

Tonight there's a star in the sky . . . 

I am in love with ornaments.

Christmas cards! 

Candles and SNOW!

Christmas tree, oh christmas tree, lit up like a star . . .
(I love Christmas lights. One of my favorite sights in the entire world.)

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Everything about Christmas is just magical, and it only makes sense that it should start with your home . . . where the heart is.

All I Want For Christmas

If Reece secretly asked Santa for his two front teeth this Christmas, I think his wish will be coming true. Or more like: Christmas will come early. His one front tooth is almost in, and the other one is well on its way. But this is great news for Reece, he can now join in on feasting on delicious Christmas treats, instead of just gumming egg nog. He can happily munch on frosted Christmas cookies, holiday fudge and perhaps even fruitcake! Or maybe not. But at least he'll have a beautiful, big toothy grin to happily flash us on Christmas morning while he plays with wrapping paper. (Which I'm sure he'll enjoy much more than any present he receives.)  

Reece's Christmas and smile will now definitely be MERRY AND BRIGHT!! :)

Our Little Baby Vampire!

It's kinda scary how very belated I am with posting these Halloween pics. But no matter, cute baby pictures of Reece, whether dressed up as a vampire or not, are always velcome . . . eeer, welcome. :)

Check out his hand . . . he already got hold of a leaf. And it's been
about, umm . . . six seconds. :) He sure loves the foliage.

Happy Baby Vampire!

Playing with grass and twigs. Haha, what else would he be doing?
 Actually cooperating? Umm . . . not our little vampire. :) 

And he may as well have been a vampire flying around with his little vampire wings during this photo shoot, because he wouldn't keep still for one second. Or stay on his Halloween blanket.

Vampire squishy face. I just want to kiss those cheeks. :)

Standing!!

Watching the world go by.

Finally sitting still on the blanket. Good little vampire. :)

Spreading his wings . . .

The cutest vampire. Ever.

I love his little faces. I was actually yelling at the camera in
this moment. True story. So I think he was studying me,
wondering what his crazy mother was up to. Hahah.

But with these precious and maybe scary (spooky vampire?) pictures I still captured what I was aiming for, our precious child/vampire being all Happy Halloweeny. :)

A Whole Lotta Mustang Love

In honor of SMU being Conference USA West Champs, I thought I'd put a few pictures up of my handsome Mustangs!

A kiss for the baby pony! :)

A future SMU football star. And he doesn't even know it yet. :)

Yes! Yes! SMU won! SMU WON!!!

My pretty blues match my jersey perfectly. As they should.

GO SMU!! PONY UP!!

Dreaming of riding Puruna. Probably.